Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device is disclosed. The display device includes a first substrate, a frame positioned in the rear of the first substrate, a second substrate opposite the first substrate and positioned between the first substrate and the frame, the second substrate having an area less than an area of the first substrate, and a member layer electrically connected to the first substrate and extended toward the frame.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/162,046, filed on Oct. 16, 2018, currently pending, which is adivisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/392,952, filed on Dec.28, 2016, now abandoned, which claims the benefit of earlier filing dateand right of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0001177,filed on Jan. 5, 2016, the contents of which are all hereby incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a display device.

Discussion of the Related Art

With the development of the information society, various demands fordisplay devices have been increasing. Various display devices, such as,e.g., liquid crystal displays (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs),electroluminescent displays (ELDs), and vacuum fluorescent displays(VFDs), have been studied and used to meet various demands for thedisplay devices.

Among the display devices, a liquid crystal display panel of the liquidcrystal display includes a liquid crystal layer, and a thin filmtransistor (TFT) substrate and a color filter substrate which arepositioned opposite each other with the liquid crystal layer interposedtherebetween. The liquid crystal display panel displays an image usinglight provided by a backlight unit of the liquid crystal display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a displaydevice including a display panel exposed to the outside.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a display devicehaving a thin profile and a rigidity structure.

In one aspect, there is provided a display device comprising a firstsubstrate, a frame positioned in the rear of the first substrate, asecond substrate opposite the first substrate and positioned between thefirst substrate and the frame, the second substrate having an area lessthan an area of the first substrate, and a member layer electricallyconnected to the first substrate and extended toward the frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the firstsubstrate may include a thin film transistor (TFT), and the secondsubstrate may include a color filter.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the TFT may beformed between the first substrate and the second substrate.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the displaydevice may further comprise an electrode line electrically connected tothe TFT. The electrode line may be exposed to the outside by adifference between the area of the first substrate and the area of thesecond substrate.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the member layermay be electrically connected to the electrode line exposed to theoutside.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the displaydevice may further comprise a cover layer between the first substrateand the TFT.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the cover layermay include a material with black.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the displaydevice may further comprise a liquid crystal layer filled between thefirst substrate and the second substrate.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a side of atleast one of the first substrate and the second substrate may be exposedto the outside.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the displaydevice may further comprise a sealing member covering a side of at leastone of the first substrate and the second substrate.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the sealingmember may not cover one side of the second substrate.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the sealingmember may cover all of sides of the first substrate. The sealing membermay cover sides of the second substrate, on which the member layer isnot positioned.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the sealingmember may be adhered to the side of at least one of the first substrateand the second substrate.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the sealingmember may not cover a lower surface of the second substrate.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the member layermay be extended from a lower side of the first substrate or the secondsubstrate toward the frame.

In one aspect, there is provided a display device comprising a flat mainframe, a side frame positioned on one side of the main frame, and adisplay panel covering at least a portion of a front surface of the sideframe, a side of the display panel being exposed to the outside.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the side framemay include an outer frame forming an outer perimeter of the side frameand an inner frame positioned inside the outer frame, a heightdifference being generated between the inner frame and the outer frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the heightdifference may be generated at a back surface of the side frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the main framemay be inserted into the back surface of the side frame due to theheight difference and may be coupled with the side frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the main framemay be bonded to the side frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the outer framemay include a guide protrusion protruding along an extension directionof the outer frame toward the inside of the side frame. The main framemay include a guide groove extending along the side of the main frameand may be slidingly coupled with the side frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the outer framemay include a coupling protrusion protruding from a back surface of theouter frame to the inside of the side frame and extending along alongitudinal direction of the outer frame. The main frame may slide onthe side frame and may be fixed to the side frame through the couplingprotrusion.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the displaydevice may further comprise a backlight unit between the main frame andthe display panel. The inner frame may include a groove at its backsurface. The backlight unit may include an optical sheet having acoupling portion which is positioned inside the inner frame andprotrudes to the outside of the backlight unit. The coupling portion ofthe optical sheet may be inserted into the groove of the inner frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the inner framemay include a hanging portion protruding from the groove of the innerframe and inserted into the coupling portion.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the side framemay bend and may be positioned on at least two sides of the main frame.The side frame may further include a reinforcement member positioned ata corner of the side frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the reinforcementmember may be positioned inside the corner of the side frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the displaydevice may further comprise an adhesive member fixed to a front surfaceof the side frame. The display panel may be fixed to the adhesivemember.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the side framemay include a flat portion positioned inside the front surface of theside frame and an inclined portion positioned outside the front surfaceof the side frame. The adhesive member may be fixed to the flat portion.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the main framemay have a flat rectangular shape, and the side frame may be positionedon three sides of the main frame. The display device may furthercomprise a bottom frame positioned on one remaining side of the mainframe and coupled with the side frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the displaydevice may further comprise a member layer which is electricallyconnected to the display panel, extends from one side of the displaypanel, and passes between the main frame and the bottom frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the displaydevice may further comprise a controller provided in the rear of themain frame. The member layer may be electrically connected to thecontroller.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the displaydevice may further comprise a back cover, in which one side is fixed tothe main frame and the other side is fixed to the bottom frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, all of upper,lower, left and right sides of the display panel may be positionedoutside the side frame.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the displaydevice may further comprise a sealing member bonded to the upper, lower,left and right sides of the display panel.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the sealingmember may be separated from the front surface of the side frame.

An effect of the display device according to the present disclosure isdescribed below.

According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, the presentdisclosure can provide the display device including a display panelexposed to the outside.

According to at least one aspect of the present disclosure, the presentdisclosure can provide the display device having a thin profile and arigidity structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention. In the drawings:

FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 illustrate general configuration of a displaydevice according to an example embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 illustrate examples of a display panel related to anexample embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 8, 9, 10A, 10B, 10C, and 10D illustrate another example of adisplay panel according to an example embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 11, 12, 13, and 14 illustrate examples of a side frame accordingto an example embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29illustrate examples of assembling components of a display deviceaccording to an example embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, and 39 illustrate examples ofa cross section of a display device according to an example embodimentof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail embodiments of the inventionexamples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Sincethe present invention may be modified in various ways and may havevarious forms, specific embodiments are illustrated in the drawings andare described in detail in the present specification. However, it shouldbe understood that the present invention are not limited to specificdisclosed embodiments, but include all modifications, equivalents andsubstitutes included within the spirit and technical scope of thepresent invention.

The terms ‘first’, ‘second’, etc. may be used to describe variouscomponents, but the components are not limited by such terms. The termsare used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from othercomponents. For example, a first component may be designated as a secondcomponent without departing from the scope of the present invention. Inthe same manner, the second component may be designated as the firstcomponent.

The term “and/or” encompasses both combinations of the plurality ofrelated items disclosed and any item from among the plurality of relateditems disclosed.

When an arbitrary component is described as “being connected to” or“being linked to” another component, this should be understood to meanthat still another component(s) may exist between them, although thearbitrary component may be directly connected to, or linked to, thesecond component. In contrast, when an arbitrary component is describedas “being directly connected to” or “being directly linked to” anothercomponent, this should be understood to mean that no component existsbetween them.

The terms used in the present application are used to describe onlyspecific embodiments or examples, and are not intended to limit thepresent invention. A singular expression can include a plural expressionas long as it does not have an apparently different meaning in context.

In the present application, the terms “include” and “have” should beunderstood to be intended to designate that illustrated features,numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereofexist and not to preclude the existence of one or more differentfeatures, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinationsthereof, or the possibility of the addition thereof.

Unless otherwise specified, all of the terms which are used herein,including the technical or scientific terms, have the same meanings asthose that are generally understood by a person having ordinaryknowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains. The termsdefined in a generally used dictionary must be understood to havemeanings identical to those used in the context of a related art, andare not to be construed to have ideal or excessively formal meaningsunless they are obviously specified in the present application.

The following exemplary embodiments of the present invention areprovided to those skilled in the art in order to describe the presentinvention more completely. Accordingly, shapes and sizes of elementsshown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity.

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the invention are described using aliquid crystal display panel as an example of a display panel. Otherdisplay panels may be used. For example, a plasma display panel (PDP), afield emission display (FED) panel, and an organic light emitting diode(OLED) display panel may be used.

In what follows, a display device 100 may include a first long side LS1,a second long side LS2 opposite the first long side LS1, a first shortside SS1 adjacent to the first long side LS1 and the second long sideLS2, and a second short side SS2 opposite the first short side SS1.

In the embodiment disclosed herein, the first short side SS1 may bereferred to as a first side area; the second short side SS2 may bereferred to as a second side area opposite the first side area; thefirst long side LS1 may be referred to as a third side area which isadjacent to the first side area and the second side area and ispositioned between the first side area and the second side area; and thesecond long side LS2 may be referred to as a fourth side area which isadjacent to the first side area and the second side area, is positionedbetween the first side area and the second side area, and is opposite tothe third side area.

The embodiment of the invention describes that lengths of the first andsecond long sides LS1 and LS2 are longer than lengths of the first andsecond short sides SS1 and SS2 for the sake of brevity and ease ofreading. However, the lengths of the first and second long sides LS1 andLS2 may be almost equal to the lengths of the first and second shortsides SS1 and SS2.

In the following description, a first direction DR1 may be a directionparallel to the long sides LS1 and LS2 of the display device 100, and asecond direction DR2 may be a direction parallel to the short sides SS1and SS2 of the display device 100.

Further, a third direction DR3 may be a direction perpendicular to thefirst direction DR1 and/or the second direction DR2.

In the embodiment disclosed herein, the first direction DR1 and thesecond direction DR2 may be commonly referred to as a horizontaldirection. Further, the third direction DR3 may be referred to as avertical direction.

In another point of view, a side or a surface, on which the displaydevice 100 displays an image, may be referred to as a front side or afront surface. When the display device 100 displays the image, a side ora surface, at which the image cannot be observed, may be referred to asa back side or a back surface. When the display device 100 is observedat the front side or the front surface, the first long side LS1 may bereferred to as an upper side or an upper surface. In the same manner asthe first long side LS1, the second long side LS2 may be referred to asa lower side or a lower surface. Further, the first short side SS1 maybe referred to as a left side or a left surface, and the second shortside SS2 may be referred to as a right side or a right surface.

Further, the first long side LS1, the second long side LS2, the firstshort side SS1, and the second short side SS2 may be referred to asedges of the display device 100. Positions where the first long sideLS1, the second long side LS2, the first short side SS1, and the secondshort side SS2 meet one another may be referred to as corners. Forexample, a position where the first long side LS1 and the first shortside SS1 meet each other may be referred to as a first corner C1; aposition where the first long side LS1 and the second short side SS2meet each other may be referred to as a second corner C2; a positionwhere the second short side SS2 and the second long side LS2 meet eachother may be referred to as a third corner C3; and a position where thesecond long side LS2 and the first short side SS1 meet each other may bereferred to as a fourth corner C4.

In the embodiment disclosed herein, a direction from the first shortside SS1 to the second short side SS2 or a direction from the secondshort side SS2 to the first short side SS1 may be referred to as aleft-right direction LR. A direction from the first long side LS1 to thesecond long side LS2 or from the second long side LS2 to the first longside LS1 may be referred to as an up-down direction UD.

FIGS. 1 to 4 illustrate general configuration of a display deviceaccording to an example embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a display panel 110 may be provided at afront surface of the display device 100 and may display an image. Thedisplay panel 110 may divide the image into a plurality of pixels andmay output the image while controlling color, brightness, and chroma ofeach pixel. The display panel 110 may include an active area, on whichthe image is displayed, and an inactive area, on which the image is notdisplayed. The display panel 110 may include a first substrate and asecond substrate which are positioned opposite each other with a liquidcrystal layer interposed therebetween. For example, the display panel110 may include a front substrate and a back substrate.

A backlight unit 120 may be positioned in the rear of the display panel110. The backlight unit 120 may include a plurality of light sources.The light sources of the backlight unit 120 may be arranged in an edgetype or a direct type. In the instance of the edge type backlight unit120, a light guide plate may be added.

The backlight unit 120 may be driven in an entire driving method or apartial driving method, such as a local dimming method and an impulsivedriving method. The backlight unit 120 may include an optical sheet oran optical layer.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a frame 130 may function to supportcomponents of the display device 100. For example, the frame 130 may becoupled to the backlight unit 120. The frame 130 may be formed of ametal material, for example, an aluminum alloy. The frame 130 may bereferred to as a main frame.

A back cover 150 may be positioned at a back surface of the displaydevice 100. The back cover 150 may protect inner configuration of thedisplay device 100 from the outside. At least a portion of the backcover 150 may be coupled to the frame 130. For example, the back cover150 may be an injection production (or injection molded) formed of aresin material.

A power supply board 315 may be a printed circuit board (PCB) supplyingelectric power to the display device 100. The power supply board 315 mayconvert AC electric power into DC electric power.

A main board 321 may be a printed circuit board providing an interfacefor operating the display device 100. Further, the main board 321 maycheck and control an operation state of each component of the displaydevice 100.

A timing controller board 319 may be a printed circuit boardtransmitting electric power or signals received from the power supplyboard 315 or the main board 321 to the display panel 110. The timingcontroller board 319 may be electrically connected to the display panel110 positioned at a front surface of the frame 130 through flat flexiblecables.

The power supply board 315, the main board 321, and/or the timingcontroller board 319 may be commonly referred to as a controller.

FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate examples of a display panel according to anexample embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the display panel 110 may include a first substrate111 and a second substrate 112. The first substrate 111 may be exposedto the outside while forming the front surface of the display device100. The second substrate 112 may be positioned opposite the firstsubstrate 111. Liquid crystals may be filled between the first substrate111 and the second substrate 112. Namely, a liquid crystal layer may beformed between the first substrate 111 and the second substrate 112. Thefirst substrate 111 may be a front substrate, and the second substrate112 may be a back substrate.

A length FSL of the front substrate 111 may be shorter than a length BSLof the back substrate 112. The length BSL of the back substrate 112 maybe longer than the length FSL of the front substrate 111. Namely, thelength FSL of the front substrate 111 may be different from the lengthBSL of the back substrate 112. The front substrate 111 may have a colorfilter. The back substrate 112 may have a thin film transistor (TFT).The TFT may include a black material.

The length BSL of the back substrate 112 may be longer than the lengthFSL of the front substrate 111, so that TFT lines are connected to theoutside of the display panel 110. Namely, an electrode line ELelectrically connected to the TFT included in the back substrate 112 maybe externally exposed due to a difference between the lengths of thefront substrate 111 and the back substrate 112. The front substrate 111may include a cover layer BM corresponding to the TFT line. For example,the cover layer BM may be black. Hence, the cover layer BM may preventthe TFT line from being reflected on the outside of the display panel110.

Referring to FIG. 6 which is an enlarged view of a portion SD1 of FIG.5, a liquid crystal layer LC may be formed between the front substrate111 and the back substrate 112. Further, a spacer SP may be positionedbetween the front substrate 111 and the back substrate 112. The spacerSP may uniformly maintain a distance between the front substrate 111 andthe back substrate 112. Namely, the spacer SP may uniformly maintain athickness of the liquid crystal layer LC filled in the display panel110. Hence, the spacer SP may improve structural stability of thedisplay panel 110.

The back substrate 112 may include the TFT. The plurality of TFTs may beformed on the back substrate 112. The TFTs may be arranged on the backsubstrate 112 in a matrix form. The TFTs may be formed on a portion orthe entire surface of the back substrate 112. The electrode line EL maybe electrically connected to the TFT. The electrode line EL may beexternally exposed from the display panel 110 due to a differencebetween the lengths of the front substrate 111 and the back substrate112.

The front substrate 111 may include the cover layer BM. The cover layerBM may be positioned opposite the TFT. In another point of view, thecover layer BM may overlap the TFT. Namely, the cover layer BM may coverthe TFT when viewed from a front surface of the display panel 110. Forexample, the cover layer BM may be black.

The display panel 110 may include an active area AA and an inactive areaDA. The active area AA may be an area, on which an image is displayed,and the inactive area DA may be an area, on which the image is notdisplayed. An electrode 115 may be electrically connected to theelectrode line EL. The electrode 115 may be positioned in the inactivearea DA. The electrode 115 may be bonded to the electrode line EL, whichis exposed to the outside of the display panel 110 due to a differencebetween the lengths of the front substrate 111 and the back substrate112, and may be electrically connected to the TFT. The electrode 115 maybe a pad electrode.

Referring to FIG. 7, a member layer 117 may be electrically connected tothe electrode 115. For example, the member layer 117 may be achip-on-film (COF), a chip-on-glass (COG), a flexible printed circuitboard (FPCB), a tape carrier package (TCP), and the like. Namely, theelectrode line EL may be electrically connected to the TFT, theelectrode 115 may be electrically connected to the electrode line EL,and the member layer 117 may be bonded to the electrode 115 andelectrically connected to the electrode 115. The member layer 117 maybend toward the rear of the back substrate 112. The member layer 117 maybe extended toward the main board 321, the timing controller board 319,or the power supply board 315 which are positioned in the rear of theback substrate 112. The member layer 117 may be extended to an outerarea OA because the length of the back substrate 112 is longer than thelength of the front substrate 111. Namely, a configuration or a lengthof the display panel 110 may include a sum of a length of the activearea AA, a length of the inactive area DA, and a length of the electrode115 or the member layer 117 positioned in the outer area OA.

FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate another example of a display panel according toan example embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, the display panel 110 may include a first substrate111 and a second substrate 112. The first substrate 111 may be exposedto the outside while forming the front surface of the display device100. The second substrate 112 may be positioned opposite the firstsubstrate 111. Liquid crystals may be filled between the first substrate111 and the second substrate 112. Namely, a liquid crystal layer may beformed between the first substrate 111 and the second substrate 112. Thefirst substrate 111 may be a front substrate, and the second substrate112 may be a back substrate.

A length FSL of the front substrate 111 may be longer than a length BSLof the back substrate 112. The length BSL of the back substrate 112 maybe shorter than the length FSL of the front substrate 111. Namely, thelength FSL of the front substrate 111 may be different from the lengthBSL of the back substrate 112. The front substrate 111 may have a TFT.The back substrate 112 may have a color filter.

The length FSL of the front substrate 111 may be longer than the lengthBSL of the back substrate 112, so that an electrical line of the TFT isconnected to the outside of the display panel 110. Namely, an electrodeline EL electrically connected to the TFT included in the frontsubstrate 111 may be exposed to the outside due to a difference betweenthe lengths of the front substrate 111 and the back substrate 112. Thefront substrate 111 may include a cover layer BM corresponding to theTFT line. For example, the cover layer BM may be black. Hence, the coverlayer BM may prevent the TFT line from being reflected on the outside ofthe display panel 110.

Referring to FIG. 9 which is an enlarged view of a portion SD2 of FIG.8, a liquid crystal layer LC may be formed between the front substrate111 and the back substrate 112. Further, a spacer SP may be positionedbetween the front substrate 111 and the back substrate 112. The spacerSP may uniformly maintain a distance between the front substrate 111 andthe back substrate 112. Namely, the spacer SP may uniformly maintain athickness of the liquid crystal layer LC filled in the display panel110. Hence, the spacer SP may improve structural stability of thedisplay panel 110.

The front substrate 111 may include the TFT. The plurality of TFTs maybe formed on the front substrate 111. The TFTs may be arranged on thefront substrate 111 in a matrix form. The TFTs may be formed on aportion or the entire surface of the front substrate 111. The electrodeline EL may be electrically connected to the TFT. The electrode line ELmay be exposed to the outside of the display panel 110 due to adifference between the lengths of the front substrate 111 and the backsubstrate 112.

The front substrate 111 may include switching elements. The switchingelements may be the TFTs. The switching element may switch on or off apixel electrode. For example, the pixel electrode may change anarrangement of molecules of the liquid crystal layer LC in response to acontrol signal received from the outside. The liquid crystal layer LCmay include a plurality of liquid crystal molecules. The arrangement ofthe liquid crystal molecules may change depending on a voltagedifference between the pixel electrode and a common electrode. Theliquid crystal layer LC may transfer light provided by the backlightunit 120 to the front substrate 111.

The front substrate 111 may include the cover layer BM. The cover layerBM may be positioned between the TFT and the front substrate 111. Thecover layer BM may contact the TFT. The cover layer BM may be formed ona back surface of the front substrate 111, and the TFT may be formed onthe cover layer BM. In another point of view, the cover layer BM mayoverlap the TFT. Namely, the cover layer BM may cover the TFT whenviewed from a front surface of the display panel 110. For example, thecover layer BM may be black.

The display panel 110 may include an active area AA and an inactive areaDA. The active area AA may be an area, on which an image is displayed,and the inactive area DA may be an area, on which the image is notdisplayed. An electrode 115 may be electrically connected to theelectrode line EL. The electrode 115 may be positioned in the inactivearea DA. The electrode 115 may be bonded to the electrode line EL, whichis exposed to the outside of the display panel 110 due to a differencebetween the lengths of the front substrate 111 and the back substrate112, and may be electrically connected to the TFT. The electrode 115 maybe a pad electrode.

Referring to FIG. 10A, a member layer 117 may be electrically connectedto the electrode 115. Namely, the electrode 115 may be electricallyconnected to the electrode line EL, and the member layer 117 may bebonded to the electrode 115 and electrically connected to the electrode115. The member layer 117 may bend toward the rear of the back substrate112. The member layer 117 may be extended toward the main board 321, thetiming controller board 319, or the power supply board 315, which arepositioned in the rear of the back substrate 112. The member layer 117may be extended on the inactive area DA because the length of the frontsubstrate 111 is longer than the length of the back substrate 112.Namely, a configuration or a length of the display panel 110 may includea sum of a length of the active area AA and a length of the inactivearea DA. Namely, the electrode 115 and the member layer 117 may beconnected to each other within a range less than the length of thedisplay panel 110 described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. This maylead to a reduction in a bezel.

The member layer 117 may be connected to one side surface, one side, orone edge of the display panel 110, so that a source PCB is connected tothe TFT line. The connection between the member layer 117 and thedisplay panel 110 may require the bezel to be formed on one side of thedisplay panel 110. The configuration of the display panel 110 describedwith reference to FIGS. 8 to 10 is such that the source PCB may beconnected to the TFT line, and the bezel formed by the connection may beremoved or may minimize its size.

Referring to FIG. 10B, a panel cover 114 may cover the side of thedisplay panel 110. The panel cover 114 may be referred to as a sealingmember. The sealing member 114 may be attached to the side of thedisplay panel 110. The sealing member 114 may seal the side of thedisplay panel 110. In this instance, the sealing member 114 may cover afirst long side 110LS1, a first short side 110SS1, and a second shortside 110SS2 of the display panel 110. Hence, the sealing member 114 mayprevent the side of the display panel 110 from being polluted ordamaged.

Referring to FIG. 10C, the sealing member 114 may be positioned on aside of the display panel 110. The display panel 110 may include thefirst substrate 111 and the second substrate 112. The first substrate111 may be the front substrate, and the second substrate 112 may be theback substrate. The sealing member 114 may cover a side of the frontsubstrate 111 and a side of the back substrate 112. The sealing member114 may be attached to the side of the front substrate 111 and the sideof the back substrate 112. In FIG. 10C, the side of the display panel110 may be the first long side 110LS1, the first short side 110SS1,and/or the second short side 110SS2 shown in FIG. 10A. Namely, the sideof the display panel 110 may be a side, which is not connected to themember layer 117.

Referring to FIG. 10D, the sealing member 114 may be positioned on aside of the display panel 110. The display panel 110 may include thefirst substrate 111 and the second substrate 112. The first substrate111 may be the front substrate, and the second substrate 112 may be theback substrate. The sealing member 114 may cover a side of the frontsubstrate 111. The sealing member 114 may be attached to the side of thefront substrate 111. In FIG. 10D, the side of the display panel 110 maybe a second long side 110LS2 shown in FIG. 10A. Namely, the side of thedisplay panel 110 may be a side, which is connected to the member layer117.

FIGS. 11 to 14 illustrate examples of a side frame according to anexample embodiment of the invention. More specifically, FIGS. 11 and 12illustrate examples of a front surface of a side frame according to anexample embodiment of the invention, FIG. 13 illustrates an example of aback surface of a side frame according to an example embodiment of theinvention, and FIG. 14 illustrates an example of a reinforcement memberaccording to an example embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a side frame 140 may extend. The sideframe 140 may have a symmetrical or asymmetrical cross section. The sideframe 140 may include a metal material. The side frame 140 may have agroove 144. The groove 144 may be formed on one side of the side frame140.

The groove 144 may be a plurality of grooves. The plurality of grooves144 may be sequentially formed on one side of the side frame 140. Theplurality of grooves 144 may be separated from one another on one sideof the side frame 140 by a predetermined distance. Each groove 144 mayextend to the inside of the side frame 140.

The side frame 140 may bend at a formation location of the groove 144.The side frame 140 may be formed in a

-shape or a

-shape through the bending. The side frame 140 may entirely have a

-shape. A groove 146 may be formed at one end or both ends of the sideframe 140. The groove 146 may be formed on a front surface of the sideframe 140.

The side frame 140 may be formed through the bending, or may be formedby coupling separate frames.

Referring to FIG. 13, the side frame 140 may include an outer frame 141and an inner frame 143. The outer frame 141 may form an outer perimeterof the side frame 140. The outer frame 141 may form the first long sideLS1, the first short side SS1, and the second short side SS2 of thedisplay device 100. The outer frame 141 may be formed as one body, ormay be formed by coupling separate frames.

The inner frame 143 may be connected to the outer frame 141. The innerframe 143 may extend from the outer frame 141. The inner frame 143 maybe a plurality of inner frames. The inner frame 143 may be formed as onebody along with the outer frame 141, or may be formed separately fromthe outer frame 141 and then may be coupled with the outer frame 141.The inner frame 143 may include a first inner frame 143LS1, a secondinner frame 143SS1, and a third inner frame 143SS2. The inner frame 143may be formed at a height difference from the outer frame 141. Forexample, the inner frame 143 and the outer frame 141 may form a step.The height difference may decrease as it goes from the outer frame 141to the inner frame 143. In other words, the inner frame 143 may beformed so as to be stepped from the outer frame 141. The inner frame 143can form a step that is lowered from the outer frame 141

The first inner frame 143LS1 may extend from an outer frame 141LS1 ofthe first long side LS1 to the inside of the side frame 140. In thisinstance, the first inner frame 143LS1 may be a flat extended plate. Thesecond inner frame 143SS1 may extend from an outer frame 141SS1 of thefirst short side SS1 to the inside of the side frame 140. In thisinstance, the second inner frame 143SS1 may be a flat extended plate.The third inner frame 143SS2 may extend from an outer frame 141SS2 ofthe second short side SS2 to the inside of the side frame 140. In thisinstance, the third inner frame 143SS2 may be a flat extended plate. Theouter frame 141 may entirely form an outer shape of the side frame 140.The inner frame 143 may be connected to the outer frame 141 and mayprovide a support force for the components of the display device 100.

A reinforcement member 145 may be positioned at a first corner C1 and/ora second corner C2. The reinforcement member 145 may be positionedadjacent to the first corner C1 inside the outer frame 141. Thereinforcement member 145 may be positioned between the outer frame 141,the second inner frame 143SS1 of the first short side SS1, and the firstinner frame 143LS1 of the first long side LS1. The reinforcement member145 may contact the outer frame 141, the second inner frame 143SS1, orthe first inner frame 143LS1. The reinforcement member 145 may providerigidity for the side frame 140, so that the bending of the side frame140 is maintained. Since the configuration of the reinforcement member145 adjacent to the first corner C1 may be equally applied to areinforcement member 145, which may be positioned adjacent to the secondcorner C2, a further description may be briefly made or may be entirelyomitted.

The inner frame 143 may have a groove 140 h. The groove 140 h may be aplurality of grooves 140 h. For example, the inner frame 143LS1 of thefirst long side LS1 may have five grooves 140 h. The five grooves 140 hmay be sequentially formed on the inner frame 143LS1 of the first longside LS1. The five grooves 140 h may be positioned at regular intervalsor at irregular intervals. In another embodiment, the inner frame 143SS1or 143SS2 of the first or second short side may have three grooves 140h. The three grooves 140 h may be sequentially formed on the inner frame143SS1 of the first short side SS1 at regular intervals.

Referring to FIG. 14, the reinforcement member 145 may include astraight portion 145L and a round portion 145R. The straight portion145L may form an inside of the reinforcement member 145. The straightportion 145L may improve the support rigidity of the reinforcementmember 145. The round portion 145R may form an outside of thereinforcement member 145. The round portion 145R may be formed alongcurvature of the bending of the side frame 140.

The reinforcement member 145 may have a gap 145G. The gap 145G may bepositioned adjacent to the round portion 145R. The gap 145G may provideflexibility for the reinforcement member 145. The gap 145G may bepositioned adjacent to the round portion 145R and may extend along thereinforcement member 145. The gap 145G may extend in differentdirections. Namely, the gap 145G may form a cross line.

One side 1451 of the reinforcement member 145 may contact the innerframe 143LS1 of the first long side LS1, and the other side 1452 of thereinforcement member 145 may contact the inner frame 143SS2 of thesecond short side. Other sides 1453 and 1454 of the reinforcement member145 may contact the inside of the outer frame 141. Hence, thereinforcement member 145 may provide the rigidity and flexibility forthe side frame 140.

FIGS. 15 to 29 illustrate examples of assembling components of a displaydevice according to an example embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 15, an optical sheet 125 may be positioned on theinside of the side frame 140. The optical sheet 125 may be coupled withthe side frame 140. The optical sheet 125 may be coupled with the insideof the side frame 140. The optical sheet 125 may be inserted into thegroove 140 h included in the side frame 140.

The optical sheet 125 can cause light of the light sources to beuniformly transferred to the display panel 110. The optical sheet 125may include a plurality of layers. For example, the optical sheet 125may include at least one prism sheet and/or at least one diffusionsheet. The optical sheet 125 may include at least one coupling portion125 d. The coupling portion 125 d may be coupled with the groove 140 hof the side frame 140. The coupling portion 125 d may be formed on afirst long side, a first short side, and/or a second short side of theoptical sheet 125.

The optical sheet 125 may include a plurality of sheets having differentfunctions. For example, the optical sheet 125 may include first to thirdoptical sheets. The first optical sheet may function as a diffusionsheet, and the second and third optical sheets may function as a prismsheet. A number and/or a position of the diffusion sheets and the prismsheets may be changed. For example, the optical sheet 125 may includethe first optical sheet as the diffusion sheet and the second opticalsheet as the prism sheet.

The diffusion sheet may prevent light coming from a diffusion plate frombeing partially concentrated and may further uniformize a diffusion ofthe light. The prism sheet may concentrate light coming from thediffusion sheet and may make the concentrated light be verticallyincident on the display panel 110.

The coupling portion 125 d may be formed on at least one of edges of theoptical sheet 125. The coupling portion 125 d may be formed on at leastone of the first to third optical sheets. The coupling portion 125 d maybe formed at an edge of the long side of the optical sheet 125. Thecoupling portions 125 d formed on the first long side of the opticalsheet 125 may be arranged irregularly. For example, a number and/or aposition of the coupling portions 125 d of the first long side may bedifferent from a number and/or a position of the coupling portions 125 dof the first or second short side.

At least one light assembly 124 may be mounted on a substrate 122. Thesubstrate 122 may have an electrode pattern for connecting an adaptor tothe light assembly 124. For example, a carbon nanotube electrode patternfor connecting the adaptor to the light assembly 124 may be formed onthe substrate 122. The substrate 122 may be formed of at least one ofpolyethylene terephthalate (PET), glass, polycarbonate (PC), andsilicon. The substrate 122 may be a printed circuit board (PCB), onwhich at least one light assembly 124 is mounted.

The light assembly 124 may be a light emitting diode (LED) chip or a LEDpackage including having at least one LED chip. The light assembly 124may be configured as a colored LED emitting at least one of red, green,and blue light or a white LED. The colored LED may include at least oneof a red LED, a green LED, and a blue LED.

A light source included in the light assembly 124 may be a COB(Chip-On-Board) type. The COB light source may be configured such thatthe LED chip as the light source is directly coupled with the substrate122. Thus, a process may be simplified. Further, a resistance may bereduced, and a loss of energy resulting from heat may be reduced.Namely, power efficiency of the light assembly 124 may increase. The COBlight source may provide the brighter lighting and may be implemented tobe thinner and lighter than a related art.

An optical layer 123 may uniformly provide light provided by the lightassembly 124 for the back surface of the display panel 110. Namely, theoptical layer 123 may diffuse light provided by the light assembly 124.For example, the optical layer 123 may be a light guide plate. Light,which is provided for the optical layer 123 by the light assembly 124,may be totally reflected from the inside of the optical layer 123 andmay be entirely dispersed on the optical layer 123. The optical layer123 may be positioned in the rear of the optical sheet 125. Thesubstrate 122 and/or the light assembly 124 may be positioned on oneside of the optical layer 123. For example, the substrate 122 and/or thelight assembly 124 may be positioned on a lower side of the opticallayer 123.

Referring to FIG. 16, a hanging portion 142 may be positioned in thegroove 140 h. The hanging portion 142 may be positioned in the groove140 h of the inner frame 143. The hanging portion 142 may include asupporter 142 a, a pipe 142 b, and a protrusion 142 c. The supporter 142a may protrude from the groove 140 h of the inner frame 143 and extend.A length of the supporter 142 a may be substantially the same as orslightly different from a length of the coupling portion 125 d of theoptical sheet 125. Namely, a posture of the coupling portion 125 d ofthe optical sheet 125 may be kept by the supporter 142 a.

The pipe 142 b may be positioned on the supporter 142 a and may extendin an extension direction of the supporter 142 a. A thickness of thepipe 142 b may be greater than a thickness of the supporter 142 a.Namely, the thickness of the pipe 142 b may be greater than a width ofthe coupling portion 125 d of the optical sheet 125. In other words, thepipe 142 b may prevent the coupling portion 125 d of the optical sheet125 from being detached from the supporter 142 a in a state where thecoupling portion 125 d of the optical sheet 125 is inserted into thesupporter 142 a. The protrusion 142 c may be positioned at both ends ofthe pipe 142 b. After the coupling portion 125 d of the optical sheet125 is inserted into the supporter 142 a, or in other embodiments wherethe supporter 142 a is inserted into the coupling portion 125 d, theprotrusion 142 c may prevent more efficiently the optical sheet 125 frombeing detached from the supporter 142 a

Referring to FIG. 17, a reflective sheet 126 may be positioned on afront surface of the substrate 122. The reflective sheet 126 may bepositioned in an area of the substrate 122 except a formation area ofthe light assembly 124. Namely, the reflective sheet 126 may have aplurality of holes 235.

The substrate 122 may be configured as a plurality of straps, whichextend in the first direction and are separated from one another by apredetermined distance in the second direction perpendicular to thefirst direction.

The reflective sheet 126 may reflect light emitted from the lightassembly 124 to the display panel 110. Further, the reflective sheet 126may again reflect light reflected from the optical layer 123.

The reflective sheet 126 may include at least one of metal and metaloxide which are a reflection material. The reflective sheet 126 mayinclude metal and/or metal oxide having a high reflectance, for example,at least one of aluminum (Al), silver (Ag), gold (Au), and titaniumdioxide (TiO₂).

The reflective sheet 126 may be formed by depositing and/or coating themetal or the metal oxide on the substrate 122. An ink including themetal material may be printed on the reflective sheet 126. A depositionlayer may be formed on the reflective sheet 126 using a heat depositionmethod, an evaporation method, or a vacuum deposition method such as asputtering method. A coating layer and/or a printing layer may be formedon the reflective sheet 126 using a printing method, a gravure coatingmethod or a silk screen method.

Referring to FIG. 18, the frame 130 may be coupled with the side frame140. The frame 130 may be coupled with the inside of the side frame 140.The frame 130 may be fixed by a height difference generated by the outerframe 141 and the inner frame 143 of the side frame 140. Namely, theside of the frame 130 may contact the inside of the outer frame 141, andthe front surface of the frame 130 may contact a back surface of theinner frame 143. A beam frame 135 may be coupled with a back surface ofthe frame 130. The beam frame 135 may be fixed to the back surface ofthe frame 130 through a rivet or a bolt. The beam frame 135 may bepositioned on the back surface of the frame 130, and a portion of theback cover 150 may be fixed to the beam frame 135. Further, the powersupply board 315, the main board 321, or the timing controller board 319may be installed on the back surface of the frame 130 or in the rear ofthe frame 130 by the beam frame 135.

Referring to FIG. 19, the frame 130 may be coupled with the side frame140. The frame 130 may be inserted into the side frame 140. The frame130 may be pressed in the inside of the outer frame 141. Alternatively,the frame 130 may be bonded to the side frame 140. An adhesive member Bmay be positioned on a back surface of the inner frame 143 of the sideframe 140. The frame 130 may be coupled with the side frame 140 by theadhesive member B included in the inner frame 143.

Referring to FIG. 20, the frame 130 may be coupled with the side frame140 while sliding on the side frame 140. The frame 130 may slide fromthe second long side LS2 of the display device 100 to a first long side140LS1 of the side frame 140 along a first short side 140SS1 and asecond short side 140SS2 of the side frame 140. For this, the side frame140 may include a coupling guide 148. This is described later.

Referring to FIG. 21, an adhesive member 160 may be positioned on thefront surface of the side frame 140. The adhesive member 160 may beattached to the front surface of the side frame 140. The adhesive member160 may be positioned throughout the front surface of the side frame140. For example, the adhesive member 160 may be a double-sided tape. Afirst adhesive member 161 may be attached to the first long side 140LS1of the front surface of the side frame 140. A second adhesive member 163may be attached to the first short side 140SS1 of the front surface ofthe side frame 140, and a third adhesive member 165 may be attached tothe second short side 140SS2 of the front surface of the side frame 140.Namely, a portion of the front surface or the entire front surface ofthe side frame 140 may be the adhesive member 160.

Referring to FIG. 22, the side frame 140 may include a flat portion 140Pand an inclined portion 1401. The flat portion 140P may form the frontsurface of the side frame 140. The flat portion 140P may form the insideof the side frame 140. The inclined portion 1401 may form a perimeter ofthe side frame 140. The adhesive member 160 may be positioned on thefront surface of the side frame 140. The adhesive member 160 may bepositioned on the flat portion 140P of the side frame 140.

The first adhesive member 161 may be attached to the flat portion 140Ppositioned on the first long side 140LS1 of the side frame 140. A widthW2 of the first adhesive member 161 may be less than a width W1 of theflat portion 140P positioned on the first long side 140LS1. The thirdadhesive member 165 may be attached to the flat portion 140P positionedon the second short side 140SS2 of the side frame 140. A width W4 of thethird adhesive member 165 may be less than a width W3 of the flatportion 140P positioned on the second short side 140SS2. Namely, a widthof the adhesive member 160 may be within a range of a width of the flatportion 140P of the side frame 140.

Referring to FIGS. 23 and 24, a bracket 170 may be coupled with a groove146 of the side frame 140. One end of the bracket 170 may be insertedinto a groove 146 formed at one end of the second short side 140SS2 ofthe side frame 140. The bracket 170 may be separated from one end of theside frame 140 by a predetermined distance DB. The bracket 170 may becoupled with the frame 130 through a bolt.

The display panel 110 may be coupled with the front surface of the sideframe 140. The display panel 110 may be fixed to the front surface ofthe side frame 140. The display panel 110 may be attached to the frontsurface of the side frame 140. The display panel 110 may be fixed to thefront surface of the side frame 140 through the adhesive members 161,163, and 165.

Namely, the display panel 110 may be coupled with the side frame 140 atthe outside of the side frame 140. Hence, all of the sides of thedisplay panel 110 may be exposed to the outside.

In another point of view, the back surface of the display panel 110 maynot be observed from the outside due to the side frame 140 and/or theframe 130. On the other hand, the front surface and the side surface ofthe display panel 110 may be observed from the outside. Namely, thedisplay panel 110 may be positioned on the outside of the side frame 140and/or the frame 130.

Referring to FIG. 25, a panel cover 114 may be positioned on the side ofthe display panel 110. The panel cover 114 may cover the side of thedisplay panel 110. The panel cover 114 may be fixed to the side of thedisplay panel 110. The panel cover 114 may be inserted into a perimeterof the side of the display panel 110. The panel cover 114 may beattached to the perimeter of the side of the display panel 110. Forexample, the panel cover 114 may be formed of synthetic resin includingan elastic material. Hence, the panel cover 114 may prevent the side ofthe display panel 110 from being damaged by an external force or anexternal impact. The panel cover 114 may be referred to as a sealingmember.

Referring to FIG. 26, a member layer 117 may extend from the displaypanel 110. For example, the member layer 117 may be a FPCB. Theplurality of member layers 117 may extend from the display panel 110.For example, the twelve member layers 117 may extend from the side ofthe display panel 110, cover the bracket 170, and face toward the rearof the display device 100. The member layer 117 may extend from the sideof the display panel 110. The member layer 117 may extend while coveringthe bracket 170. The member layer 117 may cover one surface of thebracket 170. The member layer 117 may cover the bracket 170 and extendtoward the rear or the back surface of the display device 100.

Referring to FIG. 27, a bottom frame 180 may be positioned on the secondlong side LS2 of the display device 100. The bottom frame 180 may beinstalled on a lower part of the display device 100. The bottom frame180 may be positioned on a lower side of the display panel 110. Thebottom frame 180 may be positioned adjacent to a lower surface of thedisplay panel 110. The bottom frame 180 may cover the lower surface ofthe display panel 110. The bottom frame 180 may be coupled with the sideframe 140. Both ends of the bottom frame 180 may be connected to theside frame 140. Both ends of the bottom frame 180 may be fixed to bothlower ends of the side frame 140. The bottom frame 180 may cover themember layer 117 extended from the display panel 110. Namely, the memberlayer 117 may be positioned between the lower side of the display panel110 and the bottom frame 180.

Referring to FIG. 28, the bottom frame 180 may include a front frame 182and a back frame 184. The front frame 182 may cover the front surfaceand/or an upper surface of the display device 100, and the back frame184 may cover the back surface and/or a lower surface of the displaydevice 100. The front frame 182 may have a hole 180 h at its both ends.The front frame 182 may be referred to as a vertical frame, and the backframe 184 may be referred to as a horizontal frame. The front frame 182may form an entire horizontal surface of the bottom frame 180, and theback frame 184 may from an entire vertical surface of the bottom frame180.

The front frame 182 may be coupled with the side frame 140. The frontframe 182 may be coupled with both lower ends of the side frame 140. Theside frame 140 may have a hole 140 sh at its both lower ends. The hole180 h of the front frame 182 may matched to the hole 140 sh of the sideframe 140. The bottom frame 180 may be coupled with the side frame 140by inserting a screw into the hole 180 h of the front frame 182 and thehole 140 sh of the side frame 140.

The back frame 184 may have a hole 186. The back frame 184 may have thehole 186 at its one end or both ends.

Referring to FIG. 29, the back cover 150 may be positioned in the rearof the display device 100. The back cover 150 may be coupled with theback surface of the frame 130. The back cover 150 may be coupled withthe bottom frame 180. The back cover 150 may be fixed to the back frame184. The back cover 150 may have a hole 150 h at its both ends. The hole150 h of the back cover 150 may be matched to the hole 186 of the backframe 184. The back cover 150 may be fixed to the bottom frame 180 byinserting a screw into the hole 150 h of the back cover 150 and the hole186 of the back frame 184.

FIGS. 30 to 39 illustrate examples of a cross section of a displaydevice according to an example embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 30, a side frame 140 may be positioned on one side ofa main frame 130. The side frame 140 may be positioned adjacent to theside of the main frame 130. An outer frame 141 may contact the side ofthe main frame 130. An inner frame 143 may be positioned adjacent to anedge of a front surface of the main frame 130. A height difference maybe formed between the outer frame 141 and the inner frame 143.

The side frame 140 may include a flat portion 140P and an inclinedportion 1401. The flat portion 140P may be formed on a front surface ofthe side frame 140. The flat portion 140P may be positioned on theinside of the front surface of the side frame 140. The inclined portion1401 may be connected from the flat portion 140P to the outside of theside frame 140. The inclined portion 1401 may be positioned on theoutside of the side frame 140.

An adhesive member 160 may be positioned on the front surface of theside frame 140. The adhesive member 160 may be fixed to the frontsurface of the side frame 140. The adhesive member 160 may be fixed tothe flat portion 140P. The display panel 110 may be placed on theadhesive member 160. The display panel 110 may be fixed to the sideframe 140 through the adhesive member 160. The display panel 110 may befixed to the front surface of the side frame 140 through the adhesivemember 160.

The display panel 110 may include the front substrate 111 and the backsubstrate 112. The front substrate 111 may be positioned opposite theback substrate 112. The display panel 110 may include a polarizationlayer on its front surface or back surface. The display panel 110 mayinclude a first polarization layer FP and a second polarization layerBP. The first polarization layer FP may cover the front substrate 111,and the second polarization layer BP may cover the back substrate 112.

The side of the display panel 110 may be exposed to the outside. Theside of the display panel 110 may be positioned on the outside of theside frame 140. The panel cover 114 may cover the exposed side of thedisplay panel 110. The exposed side of the display panel 110 may becovered by the panel cover 114.

The backlight unit 120 may be positioned between the display panel 110and the main frame 130. The backlight unit 120 may be positioned on theinside of the side frame 140. The backlight unit 120 may be positionedbetween the display panel 110, the main frame 130, and the side frame140. The backlight unit 120 may include an optical layer 123 and anoptical sheet 125. The optical layer 123 may be positioned adjacent tothe main frame 130, and the optical sheet 125 may be positioned adjacentto the display panel 110. The optical layer 123 may be positionedbetween the main frame 130 and the display panel 110, and the opticalsheet 125 may be positioned between the optical layer 123 and thedisplay panel 110.

Referring to FIG. 31, a side frame 140 may be positioned on one side ofa main frame 130. The side frame 140 may be positioned adjacent to theside of the main frame 130. An outer frame 141 may contact the side ofthe main frame 130. An inner frame 143 may be positioned adjacent to anedge of a front surface of the main frame 130. A height difference maybe formed between the outer frame 141 and the inner frame 143.

The side frame 140 may include a flat portion 140P and an inclinedportion 1401. The flat portion 140P may be formed on a front surface ofthe side frame 140. The flat portion 140P may be positioned on theinside of the front surface of the side frame 140. The inclined portion1401 may be connected from the flat portion 140P to the outside of theside frame 140. The inclined portion 1401 may be positioned on theoutside of the side frame 140.

An adhesive member 160 may be positioned on the front surface of theside frame 140. The adhesive member 160 may be fixed to the frontsurface of the side frame 140. The adhesive member 160 may be fixed tothe flat portion 140P. The display panel 110 may be placed on theadhesive member 160. The display panel 110 may be fixed to the sideframe 140 through the adhesive member 160. The display panel 110 may befixed to the front surface of the side frame 140 through the adhesivemember 160.

The display panel 110 may include the front substrate 111 and the backsubstrate 112. The front substrate 111 may be positioned opposite theback substrate 112. The display panel 110 may include a polarizationlayer on its front surface or back surface. The display panel 110 mayinclude a first polarization layer FP and a second polarization layerBP. The first polarization layer FP may cover the front substrate 111,and the second polarization layer BP may cover the back substrate 112.

The side of the display panel 110 may be exposed to the outside. Theside of the display panel 110 may be positioned on the outside of theside frame 140. The panel cover 114 may cover the exposed side of thedisplay panel 110. The exposed side of the display panel 110 may becovered by the panel cover 114.

The backlight unit 120 may be positioned between the display panel 110and the main frame 130. The backlight unit 120 may be positioned on theinside of the side frame 140. The backlight unit 120 may be positionedbetween the display panel 110, the main frame 130, and the side frame140. The backlight unit 120 may include a reflective sheet 126, anoptical layer 123, an optical sheet 125, a substrate 122, and a lightassembly 124.

The substrate 122 may be positioned adjacent to the main frame 130. Thesubstrate 122 may be positioned on a front surface of the main frame130. The substrate 122 may contact the front surface of the main frame130. The light assembly 124 may be mounted on the substrate 122. Theplurality of light assemblies 124 may be mounted on the substrate 122.

The reflective sheet 126 may be placed on the substrate 122. The lightassembly 124 may be positioned on the inside of the reflective sheet126. The light assembly 124 mounted on the substrate 122 may be insertedinto the inside of the reflective sheet 126.

The optical layer 123 may be positioned between the reflective sheet 126and the optical sheet 125, and the optical sheet 125 may be positionedadjacent to the display panel 110. The optical layer 123 may bepositioned between the reflective sheet 126 and the display panel 110,and the optical sheet 125 may be positioned between the optical layer123 and the display panel 110.

Structures and components identical or equivalent to those describedabove are designated with the same reference numerals, and a furtherdescription may be briefly made or may be entirely omitted.

Referring to FIGS. 32 and 33, a main frame 130 may be bonded to a sideframe 140. An adhesive member B may be fixed to a back surface of theside frame 140, and the main frame 130 may be fixed to the adhesivemember B. The main frame 130 may be pressed in the side frame 140 andmay be bonded to the side frame 140.

Referring to FIGS. 34 and 35, the side frame 140 may have a couplingprotrusion 140HK. The coupling protrusion 140HK may protrude toward theinside of the side frame 140. The coupling protrusion 140HK may protrudefrom a back surface of the side frame 140 to the inside of the sideframe 140. The coupling protrusion 140HK may be adjacent to an edge of aback surface of the main frame 130 and may be positioned at the sideframe 140. The coupling protrusion 140HK may extend along a longitudinaldirection of the side frame 140. Hence, the main frame 130 may beinserted into the side frame 140.

An outer frame 141 may have a coupling protrusion 140HK. The couplingprotrusion 140HK may protrude toward the inside of the outer frame 141or the inside of the side frame 140. The coupling protrusion 140HK maybe adjacent to the edge of the back surface of the main frame 130 andmay be positioned at the outer frame 141. The coupling protrusion 140HKmay extend along a longitudinal direction of the outer frame 141.

Referring to FIGS. 36 and 37, the side frame 140 may have a guideprotrusion 140GL. The guide protrusion 140GL may protrude toward theinside of the side frame 140. The guide protrusion 140GL may protrudealong the longitudinal direction of the side frame 140. The guideprotrusion 140GL may protrude toward the inside of the outer frame 141.The guide protrusion 140GL may be positioned in parallel with the innerframe 143.

The main frame 130 may have a guide groove 130GL. The guide groove 130GLmay be formed by depressing the side of the main frame 130. The guidegroove 130GL may extend along the longitudinal direction of the sideframe 140. The guide groove 130GL may be formed on the inside of theouter frame 141. The guide groove 130GL may extend along an extensiondirection of the outer frame 141 at the inside of the outer frame 141.The guide protrusion 140GL may be inserted into the guide groove 130GL.Hence, the main frame 130 may be inserted into the side frame 140.

Referring to FIG. 38, a controller or a timing controller board 319included in a controller may be installed in the rear of the main frame130. A bracket 170 may be coupled with a lower part or a lower side ofthe main frame 130. The bracket 170 may be coupled with a front surfaceof the lower part of the main frame 130. The bracket 170 may be coupledwith a lower end of the main frame 130.

An optical layer 123 may be positioned in front of the main frame 130.An optical sheet 125 may be positioned in front of the optical layer123. The optical sheet 125 may be positioned on a front surface of theoptical layer 123. A light assembly 124 may be positioned under theoptical layer 123. The light assembly 124 may be positioned adjacent toa lower surface of the optical layer 123. The light assembly 124 mayprovide light for the lower surface of the optical layer 123. Theoptical layer 123 and/or the optical sheet 125 may make light providedby the light assembly 124 travel toward the display panel 110. The lightassembly 124 may be mounted on a substrate 122.

The display panel 110 may be positioned in front. An upper side, a lowerside, and left and right sides of the display panel 110 may be exposedto the outside. The display panel 110 may include the front substrate111 and the back substrate 112. An area of the front substrate 111 maybe greater than an area of the back substrate 112. The back substrate112 may cover a back surface of the front substrate 111 and expose aportion of the front substrate 111 to the outside. An electrode 115 maybe formed on the exposed portion of the front substrate 111. Theelectrode 115 may be electrically connected to an electrode line ELformed on the front substrate 111.

A member layer 117 may be electrically connected to the electrode 115.The member layer 117 may contact the electrode 115. The member layer 117may extend from the electrode 115 toward the rear of the main frame 130.The member layer 117 may be positioned adjacent to a lower surface ofthe bracket 170. The member layer 117 may surround a portion of thelower surface of the bracket 170 and extend toward the rear of the mainframe 130. The member layer 117 may cover a portion of the lower surfaceof the bracket 170. The member layer 117 may be electrically connectedto the controller, for example, the timing controller board 319.

A bottom frame 180 may form a lower part of the display device 100. Thebottom frame 180 may be positioned under the bracket 170. The bottomframe 180 may be positioned opposite a lower surface of the bracket 170.The bottom frame 180 may be positioned under the main frame 130. Thebottom frame 180 may cover the member layer 117. The bottom frame 180may include a horizontal portion 180P and a vertical portion 180V. Thehorizontal portion 180P may be positioned at a lower end of the mainframe 130. The horizontal portion 180P may be positioned adjacent to thelower surface of the bracket 170. The horizontal portion 180P may coverthe member layer 117. The horizontal portion 180P may protect thedisplay device 100 from an impact which may be generated in the lowerpart of the display device 100. The vertical portion 180V may bepositioned in the rear of the main frame 130. More specifically, thevertical portion 180V may be positioned in the rear of the main frame130 by extending from the horizontal portion 180P and bending. Thevertical portion 180V may cover the member layer 117 positioned in therear of the main frame 130.

A back cover 150 may form a portion of the back surface of the displaydevice 100. The back cover 150 may be connected to the bottom frame 180.One side of the back cover 150 may be coupled with the main frame 130,and the other side may be coupled with the bottom frame 180.

Referring to FIG. 39, a controller or a timing controller board 319included in a controller may be installed in the rear of the main frame130. A bracket 170 may be coupled with a lower part or a lower side ofthe main frame 130. The bracket 170 may be coupled with a front surfaceof the lower part of the main frame 130. The bracket 170 may be coupledwith a lower end of the main frame 130.

An optical layer 123 may be positioned in front of the main frame 130.An optical sheet 125 may be positioned in front of the optical layer123. The optical sheet 125 may be positioned on a front surface of theoptical layer 123. A light assembly 124 may be positioned in the rear ofthe optical layer 123. The light assembly 124 may be positioned adjacentto a back surface of the optical layer 123. The light assembly 124 mayprovide light for the back surface of the optical layer 123. The opticallayer 123 and/or the optical sheet 125 may make light provided by thelight assembly 124 travel toward the display panel 110. The lightassembly 124 may be mounted on a substrate 122. A reflective sheet 126may be positioned between the substrate 122 and the optical layer 123.The reflective sheet 126 may be positioned around the light assembly124. The light assembly 124 may be inserted into the reflective sheet126. The reflective sheet 126 may make light travelling around the lightassembly 124 travel toward the front of the light assembly 124.

The display panel 110 may be positioned in front. One side of thedisplay panel 110 may be exposed to the outside. An upper side, a lowerside, and left and right sides of the display panel 110 may be exposedto the outside. The display panel 110 may include the front substrate111 and the back substrate 112. An area of the front substrate 111 maybe greater than an area of the back substrate 112. The back substrate112 may cover a back surface of the front substrate 111 and expose aportion of the front substrate 111 to the outside. An electrode 115 maybe formed on the exposed portion of the front substrate 111. Theelectrode 115 may be electrically connected to an electrode line ELformed on the front substrate 111.

A member layer 117 may be electrically connected to the electrode 115.The member layer 117 may contact the electrode 115. The member layer 117may extend from the electrode 115 toward the rear of the main frame 130.The member layer 117 may be positioned adjacent to a lower surface ofthe bracket 170. The member layer 117 may surround a portion of thelower surface of the bracket 170 and extend toward the rear of the mainframe 130. The member layer 117 may cover a portion of the lower surfaceof the bracket 170. The member layer 117 may be electrically connectedto the controller, for example, the timing controller board 319.

A bottom frame 180 may form a lower part of the display device 100. Thebottom frame 180 may be positioned under the bracket 170. The bottomframe 180 may be positioned opposite a lower surface of the bracket 170.The bottom frame 180 may be positioned under the main frame 130. Thebottom frame 180 may cover the member layer 117. The bottom frame 180may include a horizontal portion 180P and a vertical portion 180V. Thehorizontal portion 180P may be positioned at a lower end of the mainframe 130. The horizontal portion 180P may be positioned adjacent to thelower surface of the bracket 170. The horizontal portion 180P may coverthe member layer 117. The horizontal portion 180P may protect thedisplay device 100 from an impact which may be generated in the lowerpart of the display device 100. The vertical portion 180V may bepositioned in the rear of the main frame 130. More specifically, thevertical portion 180V may be positioned in the rear of the main frame130 by extending from the horizontal portion 180P and bending. Thevertical portion 180V may cover the member layer 117 positioned in therear of the main frame 130.

A back cover 150 may form a portion of the back surface of the displaydevice 100. The back cover 150 may be connected to the bottom frame 180.One side of the back cover 150 may be coupled with the main frame 130,and the other side may be coupled with the bottom frame 180.

The foregoing embodiments are merely examples and are not to beconsidered as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings canbe readily applied to other types of methods and apparatuses. Thefeatures, structures, methods, and other characteristics of theembodiments described herein may be combined in various ways to obtainadditional and/or alternative embodiments.

Certain embodiments or other embodiments of the invention describedabove are not mutually exclusive or distinct from each other. Any or allelements of the embodiments of the invention described above may becombined or combined with each other in configuration or function.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerousother modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled inthe art that will fall within the scope of the principles of thisdisclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications arepossible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subjectcombination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawingsand the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications inthe component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also beapparent to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a display panel; amain frame disposed at a rear of the display panel; a side frameextending along sides of the display panel and comprising: a first partextending along a first short side of the display panel; a second partadjacent to the first part and extending along a first long side of thedisplay panel; and a third part adjacent to the second part andextending along a second short side of the display panel opposite thefirst short side; wherein at least one of the first part, second part,and third part comprises: a flat portion configured to support a rearsurface of the display panel and coupled to the rear surface via asupporting layer; a securing portion configured to be coupled with acorresponding side of the main frame; and an exterior portion extendinglaterally beyond a corresponding side of the display panel, wherein theside frame further comprises cut-out portions of the flat portionbetween the first part and the second part and of the flat portionbetween the second part and the third part.
 2. The display device ofclaim 1, wherein the securing portion is configured to engage with thecorresponding side of the main frame to secure the main frame.
 3. Thedisplay device of claim 2, wherein the securing portion comprises acoupling protrusion such that a securing space is defined between thecoupling protrusion and the side frame, and wherein the securing spaceis configured to accommodate an edge of the main frame to secure themain frame.
 4. The display device of claim 3, wherein the securing spaceis configured as a sliding groove and the main frame is configured to beslidably engaged with the sliding groove.
 5. The display device of claim1, wherein the display panel comprises at least one substrate and afirst layer coupled to the front of the at least one substrate and asecond layer coupled to a rear of the at least one substrate, wherein asize of the at least one substrate is larger than a size of the secondlayer such that an extending portion of a rear of the at least onesubstrate extends beyond an edge of the second layer, and wherein theextending portion of the rear of the at least one substrate is coupledto the supporting layer.
 6. The display device of claim 1, wherein thedisplay panel further comprises a sealing member configured to cover alateral edge of the at least one substrate.
 7. The display device ofclaim 1, wherein the side frame comprises a plurality of groovesdisposed along an inner portion of the side frame and configured tosecure an optical sheet between the display panel and a light guidepanel.
 8. The display device of claim 1, wherein a first reinforcementmember is disposed at the flat portion between the first part and thesecond part of the side frame and a second reinforcement member isdisposed at the flat portion between the second part and the third partof the side frame.
 9. The display device of claim 8, wherein at leastone of the first reinforcement member or the second reinforcement memberincludes a gap formed near a corner portion thereof to provideflexibility to the at least one of the first reinforcement member or thesecond reinforcement member.
 10. The display device of claim 1, furthercomprising a bottom frame positioned along a second long side of thedisplay panel opposite the first long side of the display panel andconfigured to be coupled with the first part and the third part of theside frame.
 11. The display device of claim 1, wherein the side framecomprises metal materials.
 12. The display device of claim 1, whereinthe cut-out portions are positioned at an inner portion of corners ofthe side frame.
 13. The display device of claim 1, wherein the mainframe is secured to the securing portion via an adhesive member.
 14. Thedisplay device of claim 1, further comprising a backlight unitcomprising an optical layer, an optical sheet, and a light assembly,wherein lateral edges of the backlight unit are covered by the sideframe.
 15. The display device of claim 14, wherein the display panel ispositioned at a forward position with respect to the side frame suchthat edges of the display panel laterally extend past an inner portionof the side frame.
 16. The display device of claim 1, wherein the sideframe is formed from a unitary member which is bent between the firstpart and the second part and between the second part and the third part.17. The display device of claim 1, wherein the supporting layercomprises an adhesive layer for coupling the flat portion of the firstpart, second part, and third part to the rear surface of the displaypanel, and wherein a width of the adhesive layer is narrower than awidth of the flat portion.
 18. The display device of claim 17, whereinthe adhesive layer comprises a plurality of adhesive membersrespectively positioned along the flat portion of the first part, secondpart, and third part and wherein the adhesive layer is discontinuous ateach of the cut-out portions of the flat portion between the respectiveadhesive members.
 19. The display device of claim 18, wherein at leastone of the plurality of adhesive members is rectangular in shape. 20.The display device of claim 1, wherein the exterior portion extendslaterally beyond the corresponding side of the display panel such thatthe display panel is not overlapped with any portion of the exteriorportion.
 21. The display device of claim 1, wherein a lateral side ofthe main frame is positioned inward from a corresponding outer side ofthe exterior portion.
 22. The display device of claim 21, wherein thelateral side of the main frame extends beyond the corresponding side ofthe display panel.
 23. The display device of claim 1, further comprisingreinforcement members respectively positioned at the cut-out portions ofthe flat portion.